Playing it SAFE ignores Jesus.
A good friend wrote, “We often approach church and ministry (dare I say life) with a theology of SAFE: Self-preservation, Avoidance of the world and risk, Financial security, and Education.”
We act like having the most Bible knowledge is maturity, when Scripture says it’s the one whose life has been changed the most by that knowledge. We store up material goods like the ants; and yet, ignore the truth that those same goods belong to Jesus and are His for the asking. We say, “That’s not a very wise thing to do,” which often masks our lack of taking steps of faith outside our comfort zones. Why? To protect self.
We are tired of pain, so we avoid risk, though we can’t please God without it. We are tired of being burned, so we hold back resources, only to miss experiencing God’s continued provision. We feel we weren’t fed if we didn’t learn something, though healthy sheep feed themselves.
Faith by its mere definition means risk (“the conviction of things not seen”). You can’t play it SAFE if you want a healthy faith. It only ignores Jesus, leaving self in control. How’s that working?
If you want more out of life, it’s time to step away from playing it SAFE and move toward trusting what Jesus is telling you by actually following Him!

Peace is maintained, at times, through war.
What do you do when you want peace, but your sworn enemy goes to war against you? Sometimes you have to go to war to keep the peace.
As believers, Scripture tells us there is a time for war and a time for peace. Our enemy, Satan, wishes to drive us off the planet. He wants to keep us from knowing, loving and becoming like Jesus. His goal? For us to stop sharing Jesus, which only does drives his gates back.
The Bible never tells us to actively seek war with our adversary, but we don’t shrink from him either. In fact, we are told to resist him by submitting to Jesus and His authority, standing firm in the truths He gives and then walking in those truths empowered by the Spirit (James 4:7-8; 1 Pet. 5:6-9). We were given scriptural armor to wear and use at minimum to hold our ground and at best to keep going forward.
Neither happens by putting down your scriptural armor or weapon! There are times you must fight, which can be rough (Mk. 9:28-29). Know this, though, victory is assured and peace will be maintained when do.

Life is meant to be lived, not conquered.
God gave Adam the job of naming the animals (see 5-31 entry). Could Adam fail? Only by not trying. God didn’t say, “Give Me a list of names and I’ll change them if I don’t like them.” No, all Adam had to do to be a success was to start coming up with names.
Keep in mind that only God, Adam, and the animals existed at this time. Adam was obedient and then God tells us in Genesis 3:20 why Adam was given this job – to bring out Adam’s need for a helpmate. He didn’t know about a mate until he saw that God had given animals them.
You don’t miss what you don’t know you’re missing. So now Adam had a choice. Play it safe by doing what he already knew how to do, which was caring for the garden; or, he could love his God through obediently naming the animals.
True living is not about getting things done, but doing what Jesus asked you to do with Him. You can play it safe and keep your routine, but miss out on what God wants to show and do for and in you. Adam wouldn’t have known about God’s plan for Eve if he played it safe.
You don’t know what God has for you around the corner until you do what He’s telling you to do right now. Has Jesus been asking you to do something that you’re hesitant to start doing? Know that only something good is around the corner when you take Spirit empowered faith steps to follow Jesus.